Pigtail barrette or clasp



Jan. 18, 1955 I A. GOODMAN 2,699,789

PIGTAIL BARRETTE OR CLASP Filed y 21, 1952 0 IIIIHI [N V EN TOR. 4/904/91 60dp United States Patent PIGTAIL BARRETTE OR CLASP Abraham Goodman, New York, N. Y., assignor to Delamere Company, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Application May 21, 1952, Serial No. 289,075

3 Claims. (Cl. 132-48) This invention relates to a hair braid barrette or clasp, and particularly to a clasp for the type of hair braid commonly known as a pigtail.

One object of the invention is to provide a barrette or clasp of this type that presents the same appearance on both sides or faces.

A further object of the invention is to provide a barrette or clasp for fastening a hair braid that is self accommodating to different thicknesses of hair and that may be engaged therein.

A still further object is to provide novel means for fastening together the two hinged halves or parts of the barrette or clasp.

The invention lends itself to embodiment in various attractive or ornamental designs, such as figures of animals or the like, in which case parts of the fastener serve to simulate the eyes of the animal.

The invention will appear more fully from the following description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side or face view of a hair barrette or clasp embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view of the barrette or clasp opened up and laid out fiat to show the inner faces of the two halves;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the barrette or clasp when opened up as in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view in cross-section on the line 5-5 of Fi 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view partly in section on the line 66 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of the fastening member of the device.

The device consists of two halves or parts 10 and 11 hingedly connected together at one end as at 12. The two halves are preferably formed in one integral piece, as shown, although they may be made of two separate pieces suitably hinged to each other.

The article may be made of any suitable flexible material and is preferably made by molding it of polyethylene or vinylite. The outer faces of the two halves are the same in appearance. In the present instance they are molded in the appearance of an elephant, although they may be plain faced, or formed to simulate any other animal or figure. In any event an essential feature is that the two outer faces should have the same appearance. The advantages of this construction are first, that the clasp will have a neat and attractive appearance even though the braid should swing or be twisted so as to present either of its faces to view, and second, it is self accommodating to braids or pigtails of different thicknesses or containing different amounts of hair.

In the present form the inner faces of the two halves are recessed at 13 and 14, the recess 13 being provided with two sets of teeth or serrations 15, and the recess 14 with a single set of teeth or serrations 16. The sets of teeth or serrations of the two halves are arranged so that in closed position of the clasp, as seen in Fig. 5, the set 16 will fit in between the sets 15. While the provision of recesses and teeth is preferred to effect a better grip on the hair and prevent the clasp from sliding, in some instances they may be modified or omitted.

The fastener member, in its preferred form comprises a rigid bar 17 having a collar or stop 18 at its central portion and enlargements or heads 19 at each end. The two halves 10 and 11 each has an opening 20 formed therein or therethrough. The openings are adapted to receive and engage the fastener between its collar 18 and its ends 19. The ends 19 of the fastener, as seen in Figures 2, 4, and 6, may protrude through the openings 20 to give the appearance of the eyes of the animal. One end of the fastener is fitted to one half of the clasp, and in closing the clasp the opening 20 in the other half is snapped over the other end of the fastener to secure the two halves together but in such a manner as to permit of their separation when the clasp is to be opened to release the braid.

While the fastener is shown as a separate element. it is to be understood that it may be permanently secured to, or be formed as an integral part of, one of the halves or parts of the clasp.

As hereinbefore stated certain flexibility of the clasp is desirable to permit of self-accommodation to braids of different thickness. However, the degree of flexibility is an important factor because if the clasp and its teeth are too flexible they may not exert a firm enough grip on the hair to prevent the clasp from slipping. I have found that where the clasp is made or molded of polyethylene it will have the desired amount of flexibility, and yet the clasp and its teeth will have sufiicient stiffness to effect so tight a grip on the hair as to prevent the clasp from slipping.

What I claim is:

l. A hair braid clasp comprising a single piece of molded flexible plastic forming two integrally connected halves foldable one on the other to clasp an end portion of a braid between them, the inner faces of said halves being normally substantially in contact with each other, the outer faces of said halves having the same ornamental appearance, the inner face of each half having a recess with teeth set therein, each half having an opening for receiving an end portion of a fastening bar, and a separate fastening bar adapted to engage in the openings for securing said halves separably together in braid clasping posltion.

2. A hair braid clasp, as in claim 1, wherein the clasp is formed of molded polyethylene plastic material.

3. A hair braid clasp comprising a single piece of molded flexible plastic forming two integrally connected halves foldable one on the other to clasp a portion of a braid between them, the inner faces of said halves being normally substantially in contact with each other, the outer faces of said halves having substantially the same appearance, the inner face of each half having a recess with teeth set therein, one of said halves having an opening for receiving an end portion of a fastening member projecting from the mating face of the other half for securing said halves separably together in braid clasping position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

